Who are the 24th Infantry Regiment Soldiers?
- By Lisa Smith
- Published 07/20/2009
- Education
- Unrated
Lisa Smith
Lisa M. Smith is Production Manager at African-American News&Issues.
The issues of emancipation and military service were intertwined from the onset of the Civil War. News from Fort Sumter set off a rush by free Black men to enlist in U.S. military units. They were turned away, however, because a Federal law dating from 1792 barred Negroes from bearing arms for the U.S. Army (although they had served in the American Revolution and in the War of 1812).
The Lincoln administration wrestled with the idea of authorizing the recruitment of Black troops. On July 17, 1862, Congress passed the Second Confiscation and Militia Act, freeing slaves who had masters in the Confederate Army. Two days later, slavery was abolished in the territories of the United States.
After the Union Army turned back General Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North at Antietam, MD, and the Emancipation Proclamation was subsequently announced, Black recruitment was pursued in earnest. Volunteers from South Carolina, Tennessee, and Massachusetts filled the first authorized Black regiments. During the Civil War, Black soldiers served in artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat support functions that sustain an army, as well. Black carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots, surgeons, and teamsters also contributed to the war cause.
There were nearly 80 Black commissioned officers. Black women, who could not formally join the Army, nonetheless served as nurses, spies, and scouts.
The 24th Infantry Regiment was organized on November 1, 1869 from the 38th and 41st Infantry Regiments.
All the enlisted soldiers were black, either veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops or freed slaves. From its activation to 1898, the 24th Infantry served throughout the Western United States. Its missions included guarding posts, battling Indians, and protecting roadways against bandits.
As part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V. Corp, the 24th distinguished itself in the battle for San Juan Hill, for which it captured.
The 24th was stationed in Utah, Wyoming, Washington and Montana, with one company going to Alaska, and the rest of the Regiment serving in the Philippine Island from July 1899 until August 1902, during the Philippine Insurrection.
In the Spring of 1916, the unit crossed the U.S./Mexico border with the “Punitive Expedition.” A reorganization process in March 1940 autorized the 24th to be brought back into active status for participation in World War II, serving a great part of the time in the Pacific. The unit received the surrender of the Japanese Garrison on the island of Aka-Shima in 1945. In July 1950, the unit went to Korea and served as a most valiant unit.
Although many soldiers have been honored over the years, the 24th Infantry Regiment still falls short in receiving the recognition they should.
The 24th Infantry Regiment selected the City of Houston to be their host city for their military reunion. The reunion events are scheduled for the week of July 22-26, 2009, Wednesday-Sunday. Over the five-day long reunion, themed “Remember the Times”; the Infantry will reminisce on the journey they experienced through the wars of 1940s.
On Thursday, July 23, 2009, the Infantry members will tour the streets of the Bayou City and have a presentation at the San Jacinto Monument. On Friday, they will be honored with a commemorative parade and luncheon, entitled a “Taste of Texas.” Their annual Scholarship Banquet will be held on Saturday. The Reunion will be capped off on Sunday with a “Fallen Soldier” Prayer Breakfast.
For more information, call (832)646-1886.
The 24th Infantry Regiment has selected the City of Houston to be their host city for their military reunion.
The reunion events are scheduled for the week of July 22-26, 2009.
The Lincoln administration wrestled with the idea of authorizing the recruitment of Black troops. On July 17, 1862, Congress passed the Second Confiscation and Militia Act, freeing slaves who had masters in the Confederate Army. Two days later, slavery was abolished in the territories of the United States.
After the Union Army turned back General Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North at Antietam, MD, and the Emancipation Proclamation was subsequently announced, Black recruitment was pursued in earnest. Volunteers from South Carolina, Tennessee, and Massachusetts filled the first authorized Black regiments. During the Civil War, Black soldiers served in artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat support functions that sustain an army, as well. Black carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots, surgeons, and teamsters also contributed to the war cause.
There were nearly 80 Black commissioned officers. Black women, who could not formally join the Army, nonetheless served as nurses, spies, and scouts.
The 24th Infantry Regiment was organized on November 1, 1869 from the 38th and 41st Infantry Regiments.
All the enlisted soldiers were black, either veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops or freed slaves. From its activation to 1898, the 24th Infantry served throughout the Western United States. Its missions included guarding posts, battling Indians, and protecting roadways against bandits.
As part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V. Corp, the 24th distinguished itself in the battle for San Juan Hill, for which it captured.
The 24th was stationed in Utah, Wyoming, Washington and Montana, with one company going to Alaska, and the rest of the Regiment serving in the Philippine Island from July 1899 until August 1902, during the Philippine Insurrection.
In the Spring of 1916, the unit crossed the U.S./Mexico border with the “Punitive Expedition.” A reorganization process in March 1940 autorized the 24th to be brought back into active status for participation in World War II, serving a great part of the time in the Pacific. The unit received the surrender of the Japanese Garrison on the island of Aka-Shima in 1945. In July 1950, the unit went to Korea and served as a most valiant unit.
Although many soldiers have been honored over the years, the 24th Infantry Regiment still falls short in receiving the recognition they should.
The 24th Infantry Regiment selected the City of Houston to be their host city for their military reunion. The reunion events are scheduled for the week of July 22-26, 2009, Wednesday-Sunday. Over the five-day long reunion, themed “Remember the Times”; the Infantry will reminisce on the journey they experienced through the wars of 1940s.
On Thursday, July 23, 2009, the Infantry members will tour the streets of the Bayou City and have a presentation at the San Jacinto Monument. On Friday, they will be honored with a commemorative parade and luncheon, entitled a “Taste of Texas.” Their annual Scholarship Banquet will be held on Saturday. The Reunion will be capped off on Sunday with a “Fallen Soldier” Prayer Breakfast.
For more information, call (832)646-1886.
The 24th Infantry Regiment has selected the City of Houston to be their host city for their military reunion.
The reunion events are scheduled for the week of July 22-26, 2009.